Geography and Map Review

Essential Questions What is a map? What are the parts of a map? How are different types of maps distinguished? What is geography? What tools do geographers use to study the world? What are the seven continents and five oceans located?

Parts of a Map

A map is… a drawing or other representation, usually on a flat surface, of all or part of the earth's surface, ordinarily showing countries, bodies of water, cities, mountains, etc.

Title Every map should have a title. Title tells what’s on the map What’s my name? Who am I?

Compass A compass is a tool that helps the user know what direction he or she is headed. On a map, a compass or a compass rose helps the user locate direction.

Compass Rose The needle on a compass is magnetized to point to the Earth's magnetic north pole. Thus with a compass, a person can roughly tell which direction they are headed. There are four major or cardinal directions on a compass- north, south, east & west.

Directions Intermediate points are the directions northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest. They help describe the location of places in relation to other places.

Scale Maps are made to scale; that is, they tell the distance between places on a map.

Scale Ratio Scale - Shows the distance on the map compared to real earth measurement (1 = 30,000,000, 1 = 500 miles) Bar Scale - Shows the ratio of distance on the map to distance on the earth (Page 16)

Scale

Map Legends The legend is the key to unlocking the secrets of a map. Objects, symbols or colors in the legend represent something on the map. Religions Legend

Can you understand this legend?

Age Expectancy Around the World Legend

Time Zones The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, corresponding to 24 hours in a day. As the earth rotates, the sun shines in different areas, moving from east to west during the course of a day. Places that have the same longitude will be in the same time zone.

What boundaries does this map show? Some maps have boundaries. A boundary is something that indicates a border or limit. What boundaries does this map show?

Inset Map Some maps have a small map inside the larger map called an inset map. What is in the inset map on the map to the right?

Types of MaPS

The World Political Political maps show how people have divided places on the Earth into countries, states, cities and other units for the purpose of governing them.

Political Maps Usually colored by country or by state Political colors make it easy to compare size, shape, and location Bold letters often make the country names stand out Symbols make it easy to tell capitals from other cities Political maps also name certain physical features, such as rivers and lakes

World Political Map

Physical Maps Physical maps show what the surface of the Earth looks like.

Physical Map Has colors that make natural patterns stand out The colors on the map can stand for types of vegetation, mountain, and natural features Names of big natural features are easy to see Physical maps also include some political information, such as boundaries

World Physical Map

Physical Maps There are different types of physical maps. Relief Maps – Show the difference in height between land Elevation Maps – Show the elevation, or height above sea level.

Continents and Oceans

What is a continent? A continent is one of several large landmasses on Earth.

What are landmasses? Large areas of land.

There are seven continents – they are (from largest in size to smallest): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia

Can you name the continents on this map?

Oceans Ocean water covers more than 70% of Earth. The ocean is really just one big body of water. But, geographers usually divide it into five oceans. The Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern oceans.

Oceans of the World The world has five major oceans. Atlantic Pacific Arctic Indian Southern Pacific Ocean Atlantic Arctic Indian Southern Ocean

Hemispheres

Hemispheres Geographers divide Earth into halves. These halves are called hemispheres. “Hemi” means half in Greek. Earth can be divided into Northern and Southern hemispheres or into Eastern and Western hemispheres.

The Equator The Equator (0° Latitude) divides the Earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Actual Photos from the Equator São Tomé and Príncipe

Lines of Latitude These are imaginary lines that measure distance north or south of the equator and run from east to west on the map. These lines are also called parallels because they do not touch.

Lines of Latitude Some important lines of latitude are: The Equator - 0° The Tropic of Cancer - 23º 26’ N The Tropic of Capricorn - 23º 26’ S The Arctic Circle - 66° 33’ N The Antarctic Circle - 66° 33’ S

The Prime Meridian The Prime Meridian (0° Longitude) divides the Earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres.

Actual Photos from the Prime Meridian Greenwich, England

Lines of Longitude These are imaginary lines that measure distance east or west of the prime meridian and run from north to south on the map. These lines connect at the north and south poles. These lines are also called meridians.

Absolute and Relative Location Latitude and longitude lines are used to find absolute location. This is an exact point on the earth. Relative location is NOT an exact location. People use direction and distance to give a general idea of where something is.

Geography

Studying Geography The Big Idea The study of geography and the use of geographic tools helps us view the world in new ways. Main Ideas Geography is the study of the world, its people, and the landscapes they create. Geographers look at the world in many different ways. Maps and other tools help geographers study the planet.

Main Idea 2: Human geography focuses on people, their cultures, and the landscapes they create. Human geography is the study of the world’s people, communities, and landscapes. Human geographers Study the world’s people, past and present Look at where people live and why Study what people do

Main Idea 1: Physical geography is the study of landforms, water bodies, and other physical features. Physical geography is the study of the world’s features—its landforms, bodies of water, climates, soils, and plants. Physical geographers Want to know all about the different features found on Earth and what causes them Take detailed measurements and track changes over time to help answer questions Reasons to study physical geography include: To learn how the world works and to better understand our world To help us to learn to live with Earth’s changes and dangers and be prepared for them